User Interview: Plumpy

Q&A with noted Hoops Dynasty user Plumpy

We've given him a forum, and he's kept it interesting. We've allowed him to ask questions and he's kept us on our toes. Now, we're doing the asking. Whether you love him or not, he is clever and generally keeps things entertaining for the Hoops Dynasty and WhatIfSports community. He really needs no introduction (but, for some reason we have written this anyway).

Ok, so maybe that was our lead for Infinitebob.

Now we are giving him, and all HD users, more (which is perfectly applicable to this user). WhatIfSports.com recently contacted affable Hoops Dynasty relative guru and apparent best friend to the HD community, Plumpy, to discuss recruiting, US Mail, Lou Holtz, practice plans, neighborhood combat basketball, playing the tambourine, Hugh Hefner and Kobayashi. How many hotdogs could you eat in 12 minutes?

WIS

Thanks for taking the time out to meet with us.

Plumpy

It is an honor, kind Sir!

WIS

Who is Plumpy?

Plumpy

Plumpy is just a 38 year old Postal Clerk who reads...err sorts the Nation's mail.

WIS

How did you learn about Whatifsports.com and Hoops Dynasty?

Plumpy

I was searching for help on my NCAA Bracket and I stumbled onto Whatifsports' SimMatchup for College Basketball. I started looking around the site...joined a few leagues. Then I heard about a new sim coming out soon called Hoops Dynasty and so began the love affair!

WIS

What was your initial reaction to our site and our games?

Plumpy

I loved it!!! I've never played anything like this. The site was easy to navigate, Customer Support was awesome and the users made me feel very welcome.

WIS

Have you tried any of our other games besides Hoops Dynasty?

Plumpy

I've tried everything and I liked them all but sadly due to time constraints I've had to limit my addiction to Hoops Dynasty but every once in awhile if I hear about a great theme league I jump back into the other games.

WIS

Besides simulation sports websites, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Plumpy

Reading, playing poker with my highly readable poker face, watching/playing sports but I've noticed that the older I get the ratio of watching sports increases as my sports playing decreases, coaching youth sports and generally just having fun.

WIS

What is your favorite aspect of our website?

Plumpy

The challenge! I'm constantly trying out new things and reading the forums for new ideas to try and get an edge on some of the unbelievably intelligent users on WIS. I also love the reading the forums (this includes Shtickless and even the Pit!). If there is anything worthwhile to be taken from this interview it is to read the forums. Any question you have probably has been answered or if asked will be. It is a veritable cornucopia of information.

WIS

What is your least favorite aspect of our website?

Plumpy

The time it takes to be successful on this site. I could spend many hours pouring over game plans trying to get an edge. Just when you think you have something one of the extremely bright users on WIS figures you out and exploit your weaknesses! Absolutely incredible.

WIS

What are some of your other aliases?

Plumpy

Plumpy3, meandean and tdowdy1. The tdowdy1 username came about when World Crum in HD started. A few coaches and I joined a conference using different versions of the username tdowdy in honor of one of the pioneers of HD, the legendary coach tdowdy3.

WIS

Which coaches, past or present, do you draw on for inspiration?

Plumpy

Lou Holtz. I was privileged to attend one of his coaching clinics in the 1990s and was blown away by his oratory skills. I was so inspired by his speech that if he said to drop everything, shave my head and move out to Utah to live in Holtsville Tent City so I could bang my tambourine all day I would.

WIS

What are your favorite teams?

Plumpy

I was born a Dayton Flyer fan and forever will be one but as I grew up I started following all the Ohio teams. I also like rooting for the underdogs.

WIS

Which five people, past or present, sit at your dream roundtable discussion?

WIS

Plumpy

WIS

What are your thoughts on the current state(s) of collegiate and professional athletics?

Plumpy

I wish the athletes would take a moment to realize just how lucky they are to get paid enormous amounts of money to play a game in which millions of kids dream to play.

WIS

What, if anything, would you change about college basketball?

Plumpy

I'd like to see a fixed salary for the athletes. Maybe this would slow down all the dirty pool used to attract recruits.

WIS

In Hoops Dynasty, how do you approach recruiting? How much of an edge do you think your strategy and subsequent results give you per season?

Plumpy

Envision a pepperoni pizza. You can have a pizza with too little sauce or too many pepperonis or even an undercooked crust and still technically call it a pizza. But when everything is just right you have a perfect work of art. That's how I recruit. I look for a void on my team and try to fill it. I never produce superstars...just cheese and pepperonis who fit nicely with the rest of the team. I don't know if it really gives me an edge but I like to coach this style.

WIS

What style offense/defense do you choose to run? Does it vary based on the roster?

Plumpy

I run all different styles. Usually I'll look at my team's roster and based on their stats pick a style.

WIS

What is your basic strategy for setting your depth chart? How many players do you normally play in a game?

Plumpy

I like to play 10-12 players a game. I just hate to see my players get fatigued. I also like to create mismatches by maybe bringing my starters in against my opponent's bench. Just mix it up and keep the opposing coaches guessing.

WIS

Approximately how much practice time do you devote to offensive/defensive sets?

Plumpy

Normally I devote 20 minutes apiece but if I have a lot of Freshmen I like to put 25 minutes apiece or if I have a lot of Seniors I put 15 minutes apiece.

WIS

How do you approach allotting individual practice time?

Plumpy

I try to keep it simple. If they run Fastbreak or Press I like to train Conditioning. For Centers and Power Forwards I like to train Rebounding and for the Guards and Small Forwards I like to train Passing and Ball Handling.

WIS

What do you believe is your biggest key to success?

Plumpy

Teamwork.

WIS

What teams/coaches have proven to be your biggest challenge?

Plumpy

They know who they are. I don't want to name names because other coaches might copy their style when they cross my path. No matter how long I study their teams or try to outsmart them I seem to always fail!

WIS

You are relatively well known because you post in the forums. What is one thing many users would be surprised to know about you?

Plumpy

I was stuffed 3 times in a pickup basketball game by Dan Quayle who at the time was Vice President of the United States.

WIS

Which users do you respect and enjoy the most?

Plumpy

Tdowdy, mt2006, anux, The Ibobs, all the Shtickless guys and my chicken friends from the Pit. Honestly I could type in at least 100 more guys and girls that I've had the privilege to meet and lock horns with over the past years. Just because they are unmentioned doesn't in the least lessen the respect I have for them!

WIS

Do you offer advice and comments on the coaches' corner page? Have any other coaches sought you out for help?

Plumpy

Most of the times on the coaches' corner we talk about who we beat, maybe a little trash talking or even words of encouragement. I've had quite a few coaches ask me for help or to look at their team and try and help them out of a slump. I'm more than happy to help. Likewise I've asked coaches to look at my team and see if I am doing something obviously wrong or backwards.

WIS

What advice can you give to rookie coaches in Division III?

Plumpy

Be patient. Don't expect to rush to DI in a season or two. Read the FAQ. Also there is information aplenty in the forums. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Have fun.

WIS

What advice do you have for coaches who have just made the transition to DII?

Plumpy

More than likely you'll be in DII for more than a few seasons so you need to recruit players that will fit your style of play. Build a Dynasty.

WIS

What is your favorite aspect of HD?

Plumpy

It's hard to say. I wasn't a big basketball fan before HD but now I watch the real games and dissect them as if I was reading the Play-by-Play of my latest HD game. I also like the other coaches. I like to think I've made some real friends from a make believe game!

WIS

Based on user feedback, Hoops Dynasty has been ever changing since it began in March of 2004, what changes have you seen that you liked the most?

Plumpy

I've liked all the changes so far. We now have more control over game plans and shot selection. Back in the beginning it was pretty vanilla compared to nowadays. One can only imagine what HD will look like in another 18 months.

WIS

What is your least favorite aspect of Hoops Dynasty? If you could change one thing about HD, what would it be?

Plumpy

I know this might seem like a cop out but I really like everything about HD. The one thing I'd like to see in HD maybe 5 years from now would be the ability to plug your Play-by-Play results into a PS2 to see the game unfold live.

WIS

What is your ultimate goal in Hoops Dynasty?

Plumpy

I don't have an ultimate goal. I just want to stay competitive and keep having fun!

WIS

If you were in one of our games, what sport would it be, how much would you cost/what would you be rated, and how many hot dogs could you eat in 12 minutes?

Plumpy

Since I pretty much sucked at every sport I've played except football, I'd be a DIII Offensive Lineman in Gridiron Dynasty. I wouldn't be hard to recruit but if a certain coach offered me a booster gift of free pizza's for a year I'd be theirs! Kobayashi has nothing to worry about but I bet I could eat 15 hotdogs maybe 30 if I seriously trained for the competition. Lol

User Profile

LoginID:

Plumpy

Name:

Dean

Age:

38

Location:

Small town in Ohio.

Education:

Still working very slowly towards my College Degree.

Occupation:

United States Postal Clerk.

Spouse:

HD is my spouse. I wake up to her, I go to sleep with her and I even watched her give birth to 7 bouncing babies. Naismith, Wooden, Rupp, Smith, Iba, Allen and little Crum.